To decorate

Once available in Britain for just a brief period during the summer, strawberries are now a year…

lemon juice

Method

Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases and heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale and fluffy. Add the polenta and continue to whisk until combined. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time.

Sift in flour and baking powder, then fold in quickly with a large spoon or spatula until you have a thick batter (the mixture may look lumpy because of the polenta). Stir in the milk to loosen, then gently fold in the chopped strawberries. Divide the mixture between the paper cases, then bake for 20 mins or until golden, risen and springy to touch. Cool for a few mins, then place the cakes on a wire rack to cool completely. The cakes can now be stored in an airtight container for up to two days.

Carefully peel the cases off the cakes. Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl. Place the chopped strawberries in a bowl with 1 tsp lemon juice and mash with a fork until pulpy. Push through a sieve over the icing sugar (you only need a few drops of juice to colour the icing a rosy pink). Stir in more lemon juice, a dribble at a time, until you have a thick yet fluid paste. Dip the top of each cake into the icing, then top immediately with a strawberry half. Leave to set, then serve.

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Comments, questions and tips

I made these yesterday - they were perfect! I didn't change or add anything, just stuck to the recipe exactly, and they were delicious. They even baked for exactly 20 minutes! And the pink icing looked lovely too :)

FatemaB

3rd Jan, 2014

I was really pleased with these lovely cakes, made a good change from the usual light sponge. The polenta gave the cakes a lovely dense crumbly texture and adding the chopped strawberries worked well. Give them a try, you won't regret it! Mmmm.

lesleyviggers

9th Jul, 2013

didn't have polenta so used half semolina and half coconut. really delicious

jennisalkeld

27th Apr, 2013

5.05

Works with dessicated coconut if you can't find polenta! :) lovely recipe!

emmamorello

10th Nov, 2012

I hardly eat my own bakes, but THESE were amazing the topping was delicious best eaten the same day, slightly warm was very yum!

josiemae23

14th Oct, 2012

Cant wait to make this tomorrow for food tech i hope its amazing!!!!!!!!
Yum!

josiemae23

14th Oct, 2012

Cant wait to make this tomorrow for food tech i hope its amazing!!!!!!!!
Yum!

dignavannielen

1st Jul, 2012

5.05

Ate them rightaway without icing and they are delicious! Rich in flavour, a bit buttery, not too sweet... Hopefully there will be some left before I finish the icing

linda172

23rd Jun, 2012

5.05

Sprinkled with grated white chocolate straight from oven so that it melted slightly then the strawberry once the cake had cooled. Delicious!

samlovesgina

21st May, 2012

5.05

Sorry the word 'dairy' is supposed to be vegan :)

Pages

Has anyone tried replacing the flour with corn flour (the yellow maize based one) to make them Gluten Free? I can't but GF flour where I live but I make another cake with polenta and corn meal, so maybe it would work?

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